Democrats Served Crushing Defeat on Filibuster, Dems. Manchin and Sinema Side With GOP

Democrats were served a resounding defeat Wednesday night, with efforts to change filibuster rules shot down in flames with the help of members from their own party.

The so-called voting rights package, a thinly-veiled attempt to federalize elections, died in a 52-48 Senate vote, as Democrat Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) crossed the aisle to oppose the bill.

CNN has a breakdown of how the bill would have eliminated the filibuster’s 60-vote threshold:

The proposed rules change — to allow for a “talking filibuster” on the legislation — would have forced lawmakers who want to filibuster the bill to come to the Senate floor and speak in opposition. Once those speeches come to an end, the Senate would be able to hold a simple majority vote for final passage. The move would effectively eliminate the 60-vote threshold set by the filibuster.

Following the bill’s failure, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) celebrated, saying, “This radicalism will have been stopped. It is a good day for America.”

Meanwhile, Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) feigned incredulity at the bill’s rejection, blaming Republicans for blocking bills “that protect the right to vote.”

Of course, many more may have sided with the Democrat senator had video not surfaced of him in 2005 claiming that eliminating the filibuster would be a “doomsday for Democracy” and an “abuse of power.”

In 2017, Schumer also called to “protect” the filibuster rule:

Schumer’s sentiments on the bill’s failure were echoed by Joe Biden, who claimed he was “disappointed” the “Senate has failed to stand up for democracy.”

However, in the past Biden has also warned against ending the filibuster:

Biden was questioned on his feelings toward fellow Democrats Manchin and Sinema during a rare press conference Wednesday, where he pushed back against assertions that he claimed the two senators would be on the side of Democrat white supremacist Bull Connor if they voted against their party.

Despite claiming he did not make the comparison, he actually did, as evidenced by a White House transcript.

With the Build Back Better bill, the $1.7 trillion spending bill, and the vaccine mandate going down in flames, the bill’s blockage represents yet another crushing defeat for the Biden administration and their radical agenda.

LATEST VIDEO